About the Speaker

Felipe Calderón served as President of Mexico from 2006 to 2012.

Felipe Calderón is one of Latin America's most distinguished leaders. He is internationally recognized as a President who strengthened the rule of law and made possible the economic recovery of Mexico after the world economic crisis. During his term he implemented public policies that projected Mexico as a powerful player in the global economy. He was named "Statesman of the Year" by the World Economic Forum, and considered one of the 100 most influential people by Time magazine.

Felipe Calderón served as President of Mexico from 2006 to 2012. Previously, he was Secretary of Energy (and as such chaired the boards of PEMEX and CFE) and director of Banobras (National Bank of Public Works and Services). He was both local and federal congressman, leader of the National Action Party (PAN) in the Federal Congress and General Secretary and National President of PAN.

President Calderón has a degree in law from the Escuela Libre de Derecho; holds a Master’s Degree in Economics from the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México as well as a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Apart from leading an unprecedented effort to strengthen the rule of law in Mexico, during his administration the Mexican economy achieved stability and growth. Despite the impact of the 2009 international economic crisis, Mexico's competitiveness was boosted by policies aimed at deregulation, free trade, competition, private investment and technical education as well as increased investment in infrastructure.During his tenure, Mexico became one of the world’s biggest exporters, accounting for 60% of the total manufacturing exports in Latin America and the Caribbean. When he took office, Mexico was the ninth exporter of vehicles worldwide, by the end of his administration it was the fourth largest.

Felipe Calderón hosted and chaired the G-20Summit of Leaders, the most important forum of heads of state and government. He also chaired the UN Conference on Climate Change COP 16, which marked a new era of cooperation in this field.

He has been named "Statesman of the Year" by the World Economic Forum and "Champion of the Earth" by the United Nations. He has received the Teddy Roosevelt Award for the Environment, the GLOBE Award from the Global Legislators Organization for a Balanced Environment, the International Star of Energy Efficiency award, among other important awards as a world leader on environmental issues.

Currently he is a member of the Advisory Council of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD); member of the Board of the World Resources Institute and Chairman of the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate.

He is founder and president of the Sustainable Human Development Foundation, where he works to analyze and propose viable policy alternatives for Mexico and promoting low carbon development alternatives for the world.

His most recent book The Challenges We Face, which deals with the main policies implemented during his administration, has sparked an intense debate about the policies that Mexico, as one of the major emerging economies, has followed on its way to development.